How to make a bed like an interior designer

How to make a bed like an interior designer

Walking into a home store or flipping through a catalogue, you’re bound to find incredibly inviting beds. Is it the multiple fluffy pillows, the perfect fold of a quilt? Somehow, they always look so different from our beds at home—but not any longer. We turned to interior design firm Cullman & Kravis to find out how to make the best bed ever. “We put a lot of focus and energy into the design of our beds, not only because it is always the focal point of every bedroom, but also because we all spend so much time in them,” says design partner Claire Ratliff. Read on for their tricks of the trade.

Follow a formula

“Whether we are selecting linens for a king, queen, full, or twin bed, we always start with a thin blanket, a bed cover like a piqué, and a duvet or comforter folded in thirds at the foot of the bed—we find this highlights the sheets and blanket and also keeps the bed looking neat and tidy.” While it’s a personal (and often highly debated) decision, Ratliff bases the number of pillows on the size of the bed. For a king bed, stick with three European shams, three standard shams, and two boudoir pillows. Remove one European and one standard sham for queen and full beds, and pare down to one of everything for twins.

Buy shams, not pillowcases

“They have the pattern or embroidery all the way around instead of on just one edge, so we find it gives a bit more pop,” says Ratliff. When it’s time to get some shut-eye, just flip the pillow over and sleep on the plain side. Afraid of dirtying the shams? Ratliff recommends storing pillows for sleeping in a closet and swapping them out at bedtime so that the bed still looks crisp and fresh when not in use.

Stock up on three sets of sheets

“This philosophy is based on the traditional bridal trousseau: one set on the bed, one set in the wash, and one set in the linen closet ‘just in case.’ You never want to be caught with an undressed bed!”